grsing

I'm fairly certain "Please Reserve" listed on the bahn.de timetable means it's optional, though obviously recommended. Anyone have any experience on whether a reservation is actually necessary, though (it'd be a morning train on 7 April if that's necessary, and it only says "Please Reserve" on the Breclav to Prague leg, which on the earliest train is on the same train, but changes numbers, while on the later one is a change b/n trains). Thanks!

ira

Hi G,

Which trains are you interested in?

Reservations are only about 3-4E if you buy them in Europe.

hopscotch

April 7 looks like a Friday. If it's an afternoon or evening train I would definitely make the reservation. Morning is a question mark. As ira says, it only costs 3 euro. I would do it as soon as I arrive in Vienna.

grsing

It's the train leaving at either 0608 or 0908 (depending on if I wake up in time for the early one; if I make reservations, it'll probably be for the 0908 one). If I do reserve, I'll definitely do it on the Continent, not before.

Intrepid1

You are correct; the seat reservations are not mandatory on the train you would be changing to (EC 174) in Breclav and I suspect you'd probably find an unoccupied seat.

You might also consider taking the direct service which leaves Vienna at 1108 (EC 172) which also requires no changes.

grsing

The direct and the changing ones take the same amount of time and follow the exact same route, just for whatever reason the changing one switches trains at Breclav, while the direct doesn't (they both spend the same amount of time at the station, too). It's a possibility, but I'd rather get to Prague earlier. Thanks for your help!

Intrepid1

I understand....but if you DO buy seat reservations then you are going to have to set your alarm clock and get up in the morning in time to use it <G>.

Here's another strategy, especially starting out in Vienna. If you don;t buy a seat reservation, get to the platform from which the train is going to leave a bit early. As soon as the train is pulled (or backed) onto the platform, get on and look for what will undoubtedly be an unreserved seat.

The train starts out in Vienna so you'd have your pick of the unreserveds.

grsing

Sounds like a good plan. That 0608 is tempting, but early, it would be nice to have the flexibility. And the point about it starting in Vienna is a good one; unless the whole train is reserved, I should be good to go. Cool, thanks.

Grcxx3

We took several trains in Germany over christmas. I reserved seats on all trains where that option was available. We missed one connection (1st train was late) and so had no reserved seats. My husband, kids, and I ended up being spread throughout 2 cars (no one offered to move to help us). On the other trains where we had reserved seats.....it was wonderful not to have to scurry to find seats together.

Definitely worth the few euros!